Poster crazy! Got to this again.

This chapter mainly deals with Liz's character more and more on Randolph's opinions on what's going on, in contrast to Randall's. Seriously didn't think Liz was going to be a main character, but what the hey. You'll also see a bit of Randolph's anger toward racism against reptiles.

Enjoy!

Chapter 4 Advantage or Favor?

"So…Liz use to work here huh?".

"Yeah…she…umm…she did…..never knew what…what happen to her…".

"So uh…what happen? Get to Monstropolis?".

"Uh…no…we…..we had some trouble…".

"Still going on?".

"Like I have anything to live for….might as well entertain somebody…."

(NS)

Randolph cracked his knuckles as Randall came out behind him, bag in hand. Randolph over-looked the landscape once again. Everything was as it was when they first came to the place. He turned back, grabbing the bag from Randall, heaving it's strap over his shoulder. They started walking North, looking for the bus stop or sign.

(NS)

Randall had been quiet again. Randolph had taken a glance back every few seconds. They were probably over a hundred feet from the diner. Randolph was starting to think that it was longer than that waitress had said, but he was also competing with the thought hat she had helped them.

He looked back, seeing the expansive road and the plain mixture of dirt and grass. He had to do something. "So..." he started. Randall had been walking like he normally did. Bobbing his head, his fronds jerking with his movements, his bottom hands swaying fists. Randolph on the other hand did the same, though his bottom hands were occupied with handling the bag.

"What did you tell her Randall?". Randall opened his mouth slightly, confused. "I only told her how we got here..." he replied. "You didn't tell here where we were going did you?". "No...". "Good...". Randolph knew the importance of keeping their destination a secret, and that Randall understood that. "So that's what changed her mind" Randolph whispered to himself. "Hey! I see it!". "See what?". "That!".

Randolph picked his head up, glad Liz wasn't good at measurements. Ahead was the stop sign for the bus. A tall sign with the picture on front. One step closer now.

(NS)

"Its been...nearly an hour...". "Maybe they stop at more than one place...or had a flat tire?".

Randolph was laying his back on the sign, all hands folded, a disappointed look on his face. Randall had his back to the grass, hands behind his head. It felt like forever that they had been waiting at the stop, and no bus had come. "Or maybe someone didn't do their job right" Randolph mumbled. Silence passed about a minute later.

"Randolph...". "Hmm?".

"Do you...think mom and dad are waiting for us?"/ Randolph didn't reply, half seeing his brother look at him. It was a question Randall should know he couldn't answer fully. Randall never knew what his parents did or even who they were...or even looked like. It was the same for Randolph. He didn't know either. All he remembered was bits and pieces of those days. Randall could only remember on thing. Of course, Randall was sure to ask the question later on.

"S...sure they are...Dad...dad'll be warming the fire when we get home and...mom...she'll...she'll be tucking us close in a nice warm blanket...the rain outside is what made it cold..." he said. He gave a confused face, as if this is what he was now visioning, as if the images were surrounding him, as if this is what he was hoping for.

"Heh...dad would be playing one of his old records on the player...mom making us something warm to eat...wanting to know what we've been through...". He was out of it when a motorized sound came from his right. He turned his head to see the bus coming down where they had come.

"That would be ours" Randolph commented, Randall pulling the lower half of his body back and flipping forward. Randolph got to his feet, the two standing to wait beside the road. They waited as their transport came closer...then closer...then closer...then...going right past them.

"(They saw us!)" Randolph yelled, turning to the leaving bus, Randall running for it. "Hey come back!" Randall yelled, but Randolph was coming behind him. "Randall! Stop!". Randall slowed down, then finally stopped, turning around as his brother stopped.

"Just...just stop..." he heaved out. "But...but why? I mean...the driver may have no..." Randall started, but Randolph interrupted him. "No Randall...they DID see us!" he yelled in a whisper.

"Dang it!" he cursed, kicking a pebble in the air, the unsuspecting piece landing a few feet away. "They saw us and didn't stop...". Randall could tell he was disappointed. Who wouldn't be? "This means we have to walk all the way there!" his brother gave a shout at where the bus had gone.

"Go on! Pass us by! I'll be sure to do the same!". Randolph was about to say more, but figured this wasn't the best example he should give his younger brother. He slowly calmed down, thinking of what had happened. "Sorry...sorry Randall...". But Randall was already there, laying a hand on his shoulder. "Its ok Randolph...we...we could go back and hitch a car at the gas station, or better yet I could hotwire one and we...".

"No" Randolph cut him off. He did want to get to the city, but he didn't want a slight side trip to the hospital in the process. "No...we'll just...just..." Randolph began, looking at where the road had begun and ended. Nothing. That left them with walking and waiting.

(NS)

Not a car passed by. Not anybody at all. Not animals even.

Randall had looked over the scenery as he dragged himself beside Randolph. His brother was focused, but his disappointment was growing with each passing second. Disappointment was common for them, like their shadows attracted such things. Randall didn't take it well. He always liked when things actually went right, but was use to things going wrong. Randolph on the other hand was part of a negative thinking. Having to be in bad situations, most anyway, he wasn't hurt much because he had expected the worst to happen.

Randall had started sweating, though Randolph had for the past few minutes. They weren't able to check the forecast, so the weather was unpredictable.

"(First the rain...now stranded!)" Randolph yelled in thought. He could still feeling the echo, now probably clotted, dripping down his head. Randall was worried about him.

Randolph was always the tougher of the two. He could take more than Randall could, probably because he may have had a few broken bones in a couple places that healed. Maybe when he was a few years old, maybe a beating. Still, Randolph didn't talk about when he was alone at the orphanage. When Randall first came to the orphanage, Randolph did anything and everything to protect him. That was a brother for him. Randolph was smart, but Randall seemed to develop slot as well. While Randolph would concentrate on physical characteristics, Randall focused on the metal characteristics. Two sides of the same coin as it were. In fact, Randolph was quite proud that Randall had learned a few things from him. On the flip side, Randolph had, and still is, learning a few things from Randall.

Randolph finally stopped, his feet stopping on the hot dirt beneath him. Randall had asked if they could get off the road, as hot gravel would burn their feet. They had probably doubled how far they were from where they had come, and Randolph was starting to get more angry about the event that had taken place with the bus.

"We can't keep walking like this..." Randolph said firmly. Randall was heaving now. Walking in running, which he was good at, was also what got him tired quickly. "So...so what do we do?" Randall asked, licking his lips with his forked tongue they wouldn't dry out.

Randolph sighed, or Randall could say heaved, before replying. "We need to go back..." he said. Randall seemed half pleased. They had several options if they did. "What are we gonna do? Hotwire? Nick keys?" Randall asked, ready to put his sneaky skills to the test. Randolph could tell Randall was excited, but when things get serious, like they were in the shed, he was afraid.

"No Randall...". His brother grinned. "I got a better idea".

(NS)

Liz had been stuck cleaning up after the diner's closing time. Well...it wasn't actually the closing time, it was just nobody had come, and the only two that did were probably long gone. She started cleaning the counter top near the register was. She still remember the conversation she had with the little guy. Randall. What a sad story that was. Honestly, if Liz could, she would post what she told her in the newspaper. Would make a heck of a story. But then again, they may not want anyone to know, Randall seemed a bit scared when she was talking to him. Either afraid that she may just had laughed at him or wanted to call the police to send them back to the orphanage. The older one, Randolph, seemed to be the lead of the two. Bet he wouldn't be happy about what she was saying at all.

The door was locked for now to assure costumers that the diner was closed, but a knock drew her attention to the door. She could see, under the "closed" sign handing on the door, were purple feet, blue tails...scales. Wait. Scales? Liz instantly got over the counter and headed for the door, opening it. Standing outside were Randall and Randolph, both sweating from the heat that was outside.

(NS)

"What are you two doing here?" she asked. Randolph went under he extended tentacle, Randall doing the same. Randall took a seat, heaving from the walk. Randolph stood near him, hands crossed, looking at Liz.

"We...need...a favor...". Randall thought that Randolph was taking advantage of the, seemingly, only monster that had given them respect. Still, it would be interesting to see if she would help them or not. "Well...its closing time so...if its drink or food..." she started. Randolph shook his head. "No...not that...we...we need a ride" he said.

Liz was confused by this, but Randolph was willing to explain. "The bus left without us...needless to say they didn't pretty much care for us..." he commented. Liz shook her head. "That's right...Oliver drives on these days...he's not the...well he's kinda...well...he is sort of...".

Randolph stopped her. "You can say it...he hates scalies..." he said, angered at the last word. "So...we just need a ride to Monstropolis..." he said. Liz gave a smile. "Your...your joking right...?". Randolph thought he would get an answer like that. "Ok then...fine...have it your way...come on Randall..." Randolph said, starting out.

Randolph though she would be able to do something simple for them, but he guessed wrong, guess Randall will have to show him how to hotwire a car in the station.

"Hey! Wait alright..." Liz said, grabbing Randolph's tail. Randolph stopped. Randall turned back, gulping. Randolph never liked it when somebody grabbed or pulled his tail. A few of the students at their school got black eyes because they did. Randall was use to it, but was always worried about Randolph's safety.

"Since you did us a favor before...I'll warn you...let...go..." Randolph cautioned. "Oh! Sorry...". Liz let go of his tail, Making Randolph turn around.

"What I meant was...I can't drive you to Monstropolis because...its across the sea...".

Randolph lowered his anger. Randall looked back at them. Randolph never was good with maps or geography. He COULD read a map, he just didn't know much about it. He hadn't felt bad about it because Randall had trouble with it as well.

"What are you talking about? You mean we need a boat!" Randolph yelled. "Randolph..." Randall whispered. His brother calmed himself. He eased himself, lowering how angry he was at the news. Liz moved back little so she could see them both.

I could drive you to the docks but a ticket would cost allot". That, they knew. "This is just perfect...we hardly have enough to make meet's end!" Randolph cursed.

A long silence passed. Randall was in deep thought, that he wouldn't be able to see the city. Randolph was angered by it al, mostly the thought that he was stupid enough not to grab their school books with the maps in it. Liz was currently thinking of a way to help, as she had told them news they didn't want to hear.

"Well...do you two...have a place to stay?" she asked. Randolph didn't reply, but Randall shook his head. Liz knew she couldn't call that orphanage. After what Randall told her, being out in a desert would be more fun.

Still...she had an idea.

"Well...since I don't like kids wasting away out there on my coincidence...I could let you two stay with me...for a while...". Randall's fronds went up, but Randolph butted in before he could say anything. "You'd do that for us?...What's the catch?"/.Liz chuckled. "No catch darling...just a country home...".

Turning to the kitchen, she did want to ask something. "On the other hand...if you two help me to clean the place so I can get out of here then...". Randolph got the gist of it. Randall hoped down from the seat he was on, looking at his brother with a half smile. They could have a place, a different place, to stay. But Randolph thought. This would mean...this would mean they won't be able to find mom and dad, that they couldn't reach the city.

With nothing at all, Randolph sighed. "Fine...".

(NS)

Liz was amazed at how fast they could work. They could just walk along the wall or the ceilings. Randall was pretty fast with shinning the metal, Liz could see her face in it. Randolph took to the stovetops and fry fryers. He also managed to fix a few bolts here and there. In under twenty minutes, they were done. Randall had taken his previous seat, wiping his forehead with a cleaned rag. Randolph was sitting on the counter, Liz behind him shaking her head.

"Boy...its takes half an hour to do the counter alone...you two work fast!" she praised. Randall managed a smile, though she was unable to see Randolph's expression. From the activity, Liz got an idea, but was waiting for the right time to tell it.

"Well...if you two are ready...I got my car in the back...".

The little end here is actually a bit of foreshadowing.

Looks like Randolph is a bit testy about Liz, looks like this'll be a problem in the future huh?

Till next chapter!